Cycling the Bay Area & Stories from the Garden

Miltassia Meets World!

I have had mixed success with orchids during my tenure as amateur gardener; from stunning success to tragic and untimely deaths. However; this week, I am happy to announce another glorious success! My little orchid’s flower stalk has unfurled herself into this vision of beauty.

Hello World!

I find the Anther Cap/Column quite interesting in its sinister looking appearance; which to me looks like a mix between a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica and a skull that would seem right at home on the cover of any late 80’s heavy metal album cover art.

Miltassia Shelob ‘Tolkien’

Miltassia slowly opens to reveal her inner self

The orchid is a Miltassia Shelob ‘Tolkien’; Family Orchidaceae; Subfamily: Epidendroideae; Tribe: Cymbidieae; Subtribe: Oncidinae; Alliance: Hybrid; Genus: x Miltassia. She slowly unfurled herself beginning Friday night and finally opened fully by Saturday night. This genus is a hybrid of the genus Miltonia and genus Brassia orchids and was left in my care in 2012 by a former colleague who was moving and unfortunately could not take her Orchids with her. I was thrilled to be able to share these images with her and to again thank her for the wonderful gift; needless to say, she was quite happy!

Miltassia’s purple lip almost fully extended

Miltassia from behind

Elsewhere in the gardens of Casa de Froio: Flowering plants continue to offer cheerful brightness and subtle color interest. A Primula cluster provides a stunning study in pink against her green foliage’s backdrop; A delicate snowflake shines brightly in her maze of Calla Lily green; and my resident and new favorite garden critter, Miss Katydid, shows off her natural camouflage within the foliage of Big Boy Avocado.